Information received on 14/01/2021 from Dr Thomas Sit, Chief Veterinary Officer / Assistant Director (Inspection & Quarantine), Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Hong Kong , Hong Kong (SAR - PRC)
Summary
Report type
Immediate notification
Date of start of the event
06/01/2021
Date of confirmation of the event
13/01/2021
Report date
14/01/2021
Date submitted to OIE
14/01/2021
Reason for notification
New strain of a listed disease in the country
Causal agent
Highly pathogenic influenza A virus
Serotype
H5N8
Nature of diagnosis
Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to
the whole country
New outbreaks (1)

Outbreak 1
Mai Po, Hong Kong
Date of start of the outbreak
06/01/2021
Outbreak status
Resolved (06/01/2021)
Epidemiological unit
Natural park
Affected animals
Species
Susceptible
Cases
Deaths
Killed and disposed of
Slaughtered
Unidentified:Incognita(Incognita)

2

0
0
Affected population
Two faecal environmental samples.
Summary of outbreaks
Total outbreaks: 1
Total animals affected
Species
Susceptible
Cases
Deaths
Killed and disposed of
Slaughtered
Unidentified:Incognita(Incognita)

2

0
0
Outbreak statistics
Species
Apparent morbidity rate
Apparent mortality rate
Apparent case fatality rate
Proportion susceptible animals lost*
Unidentified:Incognita(Incognita)
**
**
**
**
*Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter
**Not calculated because of missing information
Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
Unknown or inconclusive
Epidemiological comments
An intensive surveillance system is in place for avian influenza virus including screening at Mai Po Nature Reserve in Hong Kong. Two faecal environmental samples were collected for the routine academic surveillance study by the University of Hong Kong on 6 January 2021 and subsequently tested positive for H5N8.

Control measures
Measures applied
Screening
Vaccination permitted (if a vaccine exists)
No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
No other measures
Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type
Species
Test
Test date
Result
Centre of Influenza Research, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong (Regional Reference Laboratory)
NA
virus isolation
13/01/2021
Positive
Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.